Published: January 13, 2026
[Marquis Jarpa]
I hurried ahead of His Majesty to the site to set up large tents and makeshift rest areas. I had heard that His Majesty had previously visited Lord Van’s place, and perhaps on that occasion, he was entertained in a dilapidated house.
However, I could not allow such a miserable situation while accompanying him. At the very least, even if temporary, I had to prepare a building spacious enough and appropriate for His Majesty to rest.
With that in mind, I quickened the march, but near the destination, I began to hear unsettled voices among the soldiers.
As we moved toward the border, the roads narrowed, and the formation stretched out in a long line, with me positioned slightly behind the center. Therefore, information from the front did not reach me immediately.
“Has something happened up ahead? Confirm it.”
I poked my head out of the carriage and said this. A tall knight clad in black armor nodded while mounted. He was the young knight commander Stradale, in his mid-thirties with a stern face. Stradale looked at me with his blue eyes and spoke.
“We have reports from the advance squad, but the details are vague, so I halted further reports for now. We are conducting a re-investigation. If you are satisfied with the current report, I can relay it.”
“That’s fine. Convey the vague report as is.”
I replied, and Stradale nodded.
“There appears to be a large building ahead, presumably Baron Van’s territory, based on geography. However, the protective walls are set behind the building. Also, the walls are enormous and visibly sturdy.”
Stradale answered without hesitation—a straightforward man embodying sincerity. He likely ordered a re-investigation because he wanted clear information rather than ambiguous reports.
Still, the report made me want to doubt my own eyes.
“The advance team should have arrived by now. Then I will see it with my own eyes without waiting for the re-investigation.”
“Understood.”
As Stradale replied, a loud murmur spread from the front. Like ripples on water, the noise reached around the carriage.
“They say there’s a bathhouse that can accommodate over a hundred people.”
“They’ve apparently built rest facilities outside.”
“I heard there are two towns beyond the walls, but are they really just crumbling villages?”
I heard such voices and thought, what nonsense. I looked out from the carriage.
Indeed, even from a distance, a large building was visible down the road. It was an unfamiliar, perfectly square structure. Beyond it, something resembling a fortress wall was visible.
“What is that…?”
I muttered in doubt, leaning out of the carriage. At that moment, as if on cue, I heard the name Van.
“Lord Van…?”
“Oh, there’s Lord Van, looking well.”
“Is Espada also with him?”
Focusing my eyes on the soldiers’ formation, I spotted what looked like children at the very edge of the road on the opposite side of the column. It seemed a small group had come out, only a few dozen in number, heading this way.
“...Is Dee present?”
Stradale muttered softly. Stradale, the earnest knight commander, and Dee, the carefree lord, often argued openly, but they respected each other’s skills. Although never voiced, perhaps Stradale felt lonely with Dee absent.
Come to think of it, when I heard that Dee was recognized by His Majesty as a dragon slayer, Stradale silently nodded—only someone who knew Dee’s true strength would react that way.
“Marquis Jarpa, Lord Van has arrived.”
Stradale, looking at the approaching Van nearby, called out to me.
“He holds a noble title now. When he kneels before the carriage, you may call him.”
“Understood.”
Stradale responded respectfully.
Waiting for a cue, I then heard Van’s voice outside the carriage.
“I see the group of the Marquis Jarpa family! Is Marquis Jarpa present? I am Van Nei Fertio, the lord governing this land! Pleased to meet you!”
Hearing this unfamiliar greeting, I involuntarily felt irritated and stood up. Such words hardly befitted a noble.